TECHNIQUE FOR PROVIDING UNINTERRUPTED SWITCHED DIGITAL VIDEO SERVICE

• US 20110277008A1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Time Warner Cable Inc. (Charter Communications Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Matthew C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,677,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/116
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2402 Monitoring of the downstream path of the transmission network, e.g. bandwidth available traffic monitoring in data switching networks H04L43/00; monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2408 Monitoring of the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. client requests monitoring data switching networks utilization H04L43/0876; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26291 for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/437 Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. for transmitting client requests to a VOD server flow control in data networks H04L47/10; streaming protocols, e.g. RTP or RTCP, H04L65/65; scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests in data packet switching networks H04L67/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8193 dedicated tools, e.g. video decoder software or IPMP tool

Abstract

A request is received from a subscriber of a video content network offering a switched digital video service. The request is to establish a new switched digital video session within a service group of the video content network. The service group includes both preferred and standard subscribers and has a plurality of existing sessions. It is determined whether adequate bandwidth is available to establish the new switched digital video session without tearing down any of the existing sessions. Responsive to the determination indicating that adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of the existing sessions, at least one of the existing sessions is torn down. In this step, those of the existing sessions corresponding to the preferred subscribers are exempted from teardown. The new switched digital video session is established in accordance with the request. A switched digital video control apparatus, a set-top terminal, and a system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving, from a subscriber of a video content network offering a switched digital video service, a request to establish a new switched digital video session within a service group of said video content network, said service group comprising both preferred and standard subscribers and having a plurality of existing sessions;

determining whether adequate bandwidth is available to establish said new switched digital video session without tearing down any of said existing sessions;

responsive to said determination indicating that said adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of said existing sessions, tearing down at least one of said existing sessions, with those of said existing sessions corresponding to said preferred subscribers being exempted from teardown; and

establishing said new switched digital video session in accordance with said request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining which of said subscribers comprise said preferred subscribers to be exempted from said teardown.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said determining which of said subscribers comprise said preferred subscribers comprises accessing a computerized list, said computerized list indicating preferred status of said preferred subscribers.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

responsive to said determination indicating that said adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of said existing sessions, sending a ping signal to selected ones of said subscribers within said service group who have not changed channels for a predetermined time;

causing set top terminals of said preferred subscribers to automatically respond to said ping signal; and

requiring a manual response to said ping signal from set top terminals of those subscribers of said selected ones of said subscribers within said service group who have not changed channels for a predetermined time who are standard subscribers;

wherein said at least one of said existing sessions which is torn down is with a set top terminal of one of those subscribers of said selected ones of said subscribers within said service group who has not changed channels for said predetermined time, is a standard subscriber, and fails to manually respond to said ping signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said causing of said set top terminals of said preferred subscribers to automatically respond to said ping signal comprises loading a software routine onto said set top terminals of said preferred subscribers during a provisioning process, in response to said accessing of said computerized list, said software routine comprising computer readable program code which causes said set top terminals of said preferred subscribers to automatically respond to said ping signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said provisioning process comprises an initial provisioning process.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said provisioning process comprises a periodic update.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein said causing of said set top terminals of said preferred subscribers to automatically respond to said ping signal comprises activating a software routine pre-existing on said set top terminals of said preferred subscribers by sending a flag thereto, in response to said accessing of said computerized list, said software routine comprising computer readable program code which causes said set top terminals of said preferred subscribers to automatically respond to said ping signal upon activation by said flag.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

responsive to said determination indicating that said adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of said existing sessions, sending a ping signal to selected ones of said subscribers within said service group who have not changed channels for a predetermined time and who are not preferred subscribers; and

requiring a manual response to said ping signal from set top terminals of said selected ones of said subscribers;

wherein said at least one of said existing sessions which is torn down is with a set top terminal of one of those selected ones of said subscribers who fails to manually respond to said ping signal.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein said computerized list comprises a database of billing information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said preferred subscribers comprise commercial subscribers and wherein said standard subscribers comprise residential subscribers.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said preferred subscribers and said standard subscribers vary by program.

13. A switched digital video control apparatus for use in a video content network offering a switched digital video service and having a service group comprising both preferred and standard subscribers, said apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to said memory, and operative to;

receive, from a subscriber of said video content network, a request to establish a new switched digital video session within the service group of the video content network, the service group having a plurality of existing sessions;

determine whether adequate bandwidth is available to establish the new switched digital video session without tearing down any of the existing sessions;

responsive to said determination indicating that the adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of the existing sessions, tear down at least one of the existing sessions, with those of the existing sessions corresponding to the preferred subscribers being exempted from teardown; and

establish the switched digital video session in accordance with said request.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said at least one processor is further operative to determine which of the subscribers comprise the preferred subscribers to be exempted from said teardown.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a computerized list embodied in a non-transitory manner in a tangible, computer-readable storage medium accessible to said at least one processor, said list indicating preferred status of the preferred subscribers, wherein said at least one processor is further operative to determine which of the subscribers comprise the preferred subscribers by accessing said computerized list.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said at least one processor is further operative to:

responsive to said determination indicating that the adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of the existing sessions, send a ping signal to selected ones of the subscribers within the service group who have not changed channels for a predetermined time;

cause set top terminals of the preferred subscribers to automatically respond to said ping signal; and

require a manual response to said ping signal from set top terminals of those subscribers of the selected ones of the subscribers within the service group who have not changed channels for a predetermined time who are standard subscribers;

wherein the at least one of the existing sessions which is torn down is with a set top terminal of one of those subscribers of the selected ones of the subscribers within the service group who has not changed channels for said predetermined time, is a standard subscriber, and fails to manually respond to said ping signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said causing of the set top terminals of the preferred subscribers to automatically respond to said ping signal comprises said at least one processor to load a software routine onto the set top terminals of the preferred subscribers during a provisioning process, in response to said accessing of said computerized list, said software routine comprising computer readable program code which causes the set top terminals of the preferred subscribers to automatically respond to said ping signal.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said provisioning process comprises an initial provisioning process.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said provisioning process comprises a periodic update.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said causing of the set top terminals of the preferred subscribers to automatically respond to said ping signal comprises said at least one processor activating a software routine pre-existing on the set top terminals of the preferred subscribers by sending a flag thereto over the video content network, in response to said accessing of said computerized list, said software routine comprising computer readable program code which causes the set top terminals of the preferred subscribers to automatically respond to said ping signal upon activation by said flag.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said at least one processor is further operative to:

responsive to said determination indicating that the adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of the existing sessions, send a ping signal to selected ones of the subscribers within the service group who have not changed channels for a predetermined time and who are not preferred subscribers; and

require a manual response to said ping signal from set top terminals of the selected ones of the subscribers;

wherein the at least one of the existing sessions which is torn down is with a set top terminal of one of those selected ones of the subscribers who fails to manually respond to said ping signal.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said computerized list comprises a database of billing information.

23. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said at least one processor is further operative to vary said preferred subscribers and said standard subscribers by program.

24. A set-top terminal for use in a video content network offering a switched digital video service, said set-top terminal comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to said memory, and operative to;

receive, from a head end of said video content network, a ping message to prompt a user of said terminal to respond to the message to indicate that a current program channel is being actively watched; and

responsive to receiving the ping message, automatically reply to the ping message affirmatively, without requiring any response from the user.

25. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving, from a subscriber of a video content network offering a switched digital video service, a request to establish a new switched digital video session within a service group of said video content network, said service group comprising both preferred and standard subscribers and having a plurality of existing sessions;

means for determining whether adequate bandwidth is available to establish said new switched digital video session without tearing down any of said existing sessions;

means, responsive to said determination indicating that said adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of said existing sessions, for tearing down at least one of said existing sessions, with those of said existing sessions corresponding to said preferred subscribers being exempted from teardown; and

means for establishing said new switched digital video session in accordance with said request.

26. A system comprising:

a video content network offering a switched digital video service;

a service group coupled to said video content network and having a plurality of terminals, said service group servicing both preferred and standard subscribers; and

a switched digital video control apparatus coupled to said video content network, said switched digital video control apparatus, said apparatus in turn comprising;

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to said memory, and operative to;

receive, from a given one of the subscribers, a request to establish a new switched digital video session within said service group, said service group having a plurality of existing sessions;

determine whether adequate bandwidth is available to establish said new switched digital video session without tearing down any of said existing sessions;

responsive to said determination indicating that said adequate bandwidth is not available without tearing down any of said existing sessions, tear down at least one of said existing sessions, with those of said existing sessions corresponding to said preferred subscribers being exempted from teardown; and

establish said switched digital video session in accordance with said request.